CONTENTS. A Japanese Philosopher. By George Wm. Knox, D.D 'A Description of My Hut." By J. M. Dixon, M. A., F. R. S. E. 205 Specimens of Ainu Folk-Lore. By Rev. John Batchelor Feudal Land Tenure in Tosa. By Rev. R. B. Grinnan Suma Mura Fifty Years Ago. By Miss Hannah M. Birkenhead. 248 ASIATIC SOCIETY OF JAPAN. MINUTES OF MEETINGS. Meeting of October 21st, 1891. A General Meeting of the Asiatic Society of Japan was held on Wednesday, October 21, 1891, in the hall at No. 17, Tsukiji, at 4 p.m., Rev. G. W. Knox, D.D., Vice-President, in the Chair. The Minutes of the last meeting were taken as read. It was announced that three new members had been elected,Mr. Harold G. Parlett, Rev. W. I. Lawrance, and Mr. M. de Bunsen. The Corresponding Secretary informed members that the Rules of the Society up to date had been printed, and copies could be had on application. Thereafter several papers contributed by Dr. Joseph Edkins of Shanghai were read by Mr. Dixon. They were three in number, and entitled as follows: "Proofs that the Japanese Language belongs to the Ural Altaic Stem, and is more distantly related to European tongues ;" "Pott's view of the Genealogical Relationship of the Japanese," and "Ancient Chinese Civilization." A short discussion followed. Mr. Dixon remarked that in the edition of Chamber's Encyclopædia now appearing, an article from the pen of Dr. Legge did not concede that the existence of Parsian elements in Chinese Civilization had been proved. The Chairman remarked that Chinese elements were to be traced in the Kojiki. Although he would not venture into Dr. Edkin's own field of roots, still he thought that many of the conclusions were a little fanciful. About the astronomical argument, it counted for much less than might appear on the surface. The evidence depended on a special rendering of an obscure and highly rhetorical passage in the Shu Kien, a work not written by a contemporaneous author. The interpretation of the text might well be questioned. Vol. xx.-A |